Thompson Valley softball emerge as last Eagles standing

TVHS outlasts Broomfield in key Northern Conference tilt

By Sean Star Sports Writer

Posted:
09/10/2013 09:26:27 PM MDT

Thompson Valley softball players celebrate after Mariah Diediker, middle in white helmet, scored from third on a passed ball in the 12th inning of their game against Broomfield on Tuesday at Centennial Park.
(STEVE STONER)

As the zeros continued to pile up Tuesday at Centennial Park, the Thompson Valley softball team continued to give itself great opportunities to put away visiting Broomfield. Yet, again and again, TVHS couldn't get the one key hit it needed, eventually resulting in maddening 11 runners left on base.

Normally that number alone eliminates a team's chance of winning. But because its defense and pitching kept the opposition from delivering when it needed, Thompson Valley remained in a dogfight for the right to stand alone in second place in the Northern Conference.

After drawing a leadoff walk in her only at-bat of the marathon game and advancing into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Cheyenne Delaney, freshman Mariah Diediker scored the winning run from third base on a passed ball, lifting her team to 4-3 victory.

"Two great pitchers throwing, a heck of a game and then one mistake," said TVHS coach Bryon Rutherford, whose team improved to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the NC, behind only Silver Creek. "What I told the girls, the thing I was most proud of is that we kept ourselves in that position to be able to be there when that mistake happens."

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Rutherford's team was in position to take advantage of the Broomfield mistake largely because of the effort of starting pitcher Janelle Krening. The senior pitched all 12 innings and tossed up doughnuts in all but one of those frames, thanks to her control (just one walk) and defense (just two errors).

After starting conference play on the wrong foot in a season-opening loss to Silver Creek, Thompson Valley has now won five straight NC contests. Tuesday's win moved the TVHS Eagles just a half-game behind the Raptors, whose game against Mountain View was rained out.

(
STEVE STONER
)

Tuesday's victory was far from a work of art for Krening's team, which got out-hit 13-4. But the eventual result still counts the same in the standings.

"We wanted it. There was no stopping us," said Krening, who wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the 11th when right fielder Jenni Barnhart came charging in to snag a line drive. "There were a few times we didn't execute. So be it; we still made it work."

The biggest missed opportunity for Thompson Valley came in the ninth when TVHS loaded the bases with one out but couldn't get a run in. Again in the 10th they got the leadoff hitter, Allie Mason, to third, but again they came up empty. But after going down in order in the 11th, enough was finally enough.

After watching almost all of the three-hour game from the dugout, Diediker's number was called to pinch hit.

"I kind of just stayed loose and stayed active," she said. "I was ready for anything that would happen."

Her patience paid off in the form of a walk, which turned out the be the winning run three batters later when Taylor Tremelling watched the final pitch of the game go flying past the catcher and to the backstop.

Next up for Thompson Valley is a game at last-place Centaurus on Thursday followed by a big rematch with the front-running Raptors and their place next Tuesday.

"We just need to take care of our business and go about doing what we do," said Rutherford, who could do without another long extra-inning game after Tuesday's marathon. "Hopefully we don't have a whole lot more of those (games like Tuesday) because I don't have a whole lot of voice left. I don't have the energy or the ulcer power to do another 12."Sean Star can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 512, sstar@reporter-herald.com or on Twitter @seanvstar and @RHpreps